In the annals of India’s colonial history, few names shine as brightly—and as defiantly—as that of C Sankaran Nair or more officially known as Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair. A towering figure in the legal and political landscape of British India, Nair was not merely a jurist of exceptional repute but also a steadfast advocate for Indian self-governance and civil rights. His most defining moment came in the turbulent year of 1919, following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, when he stood up to the British establishment at great personal and professional cost.
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Early Life of C Sankaran Nair and Rise in Law
C Sankaran Nair was born on 11 July 11 1857, in the princely state of Malabar (in present-day Kerala) in a distinguished Nair family. Educated at Presidency College in Madras, he pursued law and quickly rose to prominence through his incisive intellect and mastery of legal principles. Over time, he would go on to serve as Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency and eventually as a judge of the Madras High Court.
President of Indian National Congress: His legal acumen was matched by a deep political consciousness. In 1897, C Sankaran Nair was elected president of the Indian National Congress, making him one of the earliest Indians from the south to hold that prestigious office. Even as he maintained a nuanced position within the Congress—supporting constitutional reforms over mass protests—his commitment to India’s autonomy was never in doubt.
Viceroy’s Executive Council: In 1915, C Sankaran Nair was appointed to the Viceroy’s Executive Council, a rare honor for an Indian at the time. He was given the charge of education portfolio.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, 13 April 1919
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was one of the most horrific and defining events in India’s colonial history. It took place on 13 April 1919, the day of Baisakhi, a major Punjabi festival, when thousands of people—many of them villagers—gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar to peacefully protest against the repressive Rowlatt Act. This act allowed the British government to arrest and detain Indians without trial, sparking widespread unrest.
Without issuing any warning or asking the crowd to disperse, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to block the narrow exits of the enclosed garden and open fire on the unarmed civilians. The soldiers fired 1,650 rounds over a span of about ten minutes, aiming directly at the densest parts of the crowd. People were trapped inside with nowhere to escape; many jumped into a well to avoid bullets and were crushed or drowned.
It is estimated that over 1,000 people were killed and more than 1,500 were injured, though official British figures downplayed the casualties. The massacre sent shockwaves across India and the world. It exposed the ruthlessness of British rule and shattered Indian faith in the fairness of the colonial government.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre shook the conscience of the nation. C Sankaran Nair was among the very few in officialdom who refused to stay silent. The brutality of the act—and the lack of remorse from colonial authorities—prompted Nair to resign from the Viceroy’s Council in protest. This decision was not merely symbolic; it was a deeply moral act, a rare instance of official dissent within the colonial apparatus itself.
Championing Justice Through the Hunter Commission
Following nationwide outrage, the British government established the Hunter Commission to investigate the events of Jallianwala Bagh. While the commission had limited scope and was heavily skewed in favor of the British narrative, Nair used every forum available to challenge the whitewashing of the massacre.
Though not a formal member of the commission, Nair’s criticism carried immense weight. In speeches, articles, and legal submissions, he lambasted the colonial government for attempting to justify Dyer’s actions. His pointed observation—that the massacre was not merely a military excess but a deliberate assertion of imperial dominance—cut through the bureaucratic language and exposed the moral bankruptcy of British rule.
The Legal Battle: Voice Against Imperial Arrogance
In the years following the massacre, C Sankaran Nair played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in legal and public discourse around the issue. One significant episode occurred in 1924, when his forthright criticism of Michael O’Dwyer—the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time of the massacre—led to a high-profile libel case in London. O’Dwyer sued Nair for defamation over passages in his book “Gandhi and Anarchy”, where Nair squarely blamed him for fostering the brutal climate that led to the massacre.
Though the British court ruled in O’Dwyer’s favor, the trial became a platform for publicizing the horrors of the massacre. Nair’s defense was not only spirited but morally unassailable. He made clear that he was willing to risk his reputation and safety to speak the truth, even on foreign soil. His courage in that courtroom highlighted his unwavering commitment to justice and truth, regardless of the personal consequences.
Legacy and Reflection
C Sankaran Nair contribution to Indian legal and political history is immense, but it is his actions surrounding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that truly define his legacy. At a time when many chose silence or compromise, Nair stood tall, guided by conscience rather than convenience.
C Sankaran Nair passed away on 24 April 1934, but his moral clarity, intellectual rigor, and fearless advocacy for Indian rights left a lasting imprint on the freedom movement. His legacy lives on not just in legal circles, but in the broader memory of a nation that never forgets those who dared to speak when it mattered most.
Also read:
- C Sankaran Nair as Congress President
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- Lala Lajpat Rai
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